Tri-Nations 'sabotage' moves backfire

DURBAN - Wallaby coach Eddie Jones has accused South Africa of sabotaging Australia's preparation for the deciding Tri-Nations test in Johannesburg early tomorrow (NZT).

He said yesterday that the South Africans had deliberately set out to unsettle the Wallabies, noting coach Rudolf Straeuli's ongoing criticism, their involvement in the Ben Tune doping affair and their forcing the Australians to use a substandard field on Wednesday by extending their own training session.

But Jones warned these moves had had the opposite effect.

"Our training has been the best I can remember for a side in South Africa," he said.

"We've been really sharp. There's been a number of distractions but I think they've helped, if anything, to harden our resolve to play well.

"It's funny how 'Tuney' coming in late gave everyone a lift, the positive news about him and all this ongoing stuff in the papers, I think it's just helped the team sharpen its focus rather than anything else."

Tune arrived on Wednesday morning after an independent tribunal chose not to impose a penalty, despite finding him guilty of taking a banned substance during last year's Super 12.

But South African Rugby Football Union employee Dr Ishmael Jakoet, who also sits on an International Rugby Board (IRB) anti-doping committee which will review the Tune case, has called for a two-year ban.

Australia must win by 26 points and score four tries to take the Tri-Nations trophy from New Zealand.

The Wallabies have only won once at Ellis Park, in 1963.

The match marks a milestone for Wallaby skipper George Gregan, who will pass Springbok Joost van der Westhuizen to become the most capped test halfback. It will also be flanker Owen Finegan's 50th international.

"It's a big ask and that's why our focus is just on playing well and winning the game and then everything that comes after that is a bonus," Jones said.

"The major priority is we want to win the test match and then if we can score enough points well and good and we win the trophy."

Referee-attacker Pieter van Zyl has given assurances through his lawyer he won't attend the match.

The Springboks have named an unchanged side from the starting XV who lost 30-23 to the All Blacks in Durban last weekend.

South Africa: Werner Greeff, Breyton Paulse, Marius Joubert, De Wet Barry, Dean Hall, Andre Pretorius, Neil de Kock, Bobby Skinstad, Joe van Niekerk, Corne Krige (capt), AJ Venter, Jannes Labuschagne, Willie Meyer, James Dalton, Lawrence Sephaka. Res: Brent Russell, Adrian Jacobs, Johannes Conradie, Ollie le Roux, Faan Rautenbach, Victor Matfield, Hendro Scholtz.

Australia: Chris Latham, Ben Tune, Matthew Burke, Daniel Herbert, Stirling Mortlock, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (capt), Toutai Kefu, George Smith, Owen Finegan, Justin Harrison, Nathan Sharpe, Ben Darwin, Jeremy Paul, Bill Young. Res (from): Brendan Cannon, Rod Moore, Matt Cockbain, David Lyons, Chris Whitaker, Elton Flatley, Mat Rogers, David Croft.

Referee: Paddy O'Brien (NZ)AGENCIES